Bond set for man who allegedly threatened to blow up city hall

A $10,000 bond was set Wednesday for a Pine Bluff man who allegedly threatened to blow up city hall Tuesday afternoon.

Jefferson County District Judge Kim Bridgforth set the bond after ruling that prosecutors had probable cause to charge Felix Rouse, 49,with threatening to cause a catastrophe, a Class D felony.

In addition to setting the bond, the judge ordered Rouse to have no contact with Mayor Debe Hollingsworth or any member of the Pine Bluff City Council, and Deputy Prosecutor Maxie Kizer said that order may be modified later after authorities determine determine exactly who else was present when Rouse made the alleged threat.

Testifying at the court hearing, Detective Mike Sweeney said several council members and other city employees were present during a meeting of the council’s planning and development committee when Rouse became upset after a disagreement over property Rouse owned.

Sweeney said Rouse “slammed the door” and made the comment that ‘you’re going to make me do something I’m going to regret later,’ and later allegedly said “I’m going to blow this (expletive) up.’

According to a police report, Alderman Charles Boyd, Lloyd Holcomb Jr., and Steven Mays, who make up the committee, were present but none said they heard the alleged threat from Rouse.

The statements from Rouse were attributed to several city employees who were also present, the report said.